Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Re: Convert a router bed to a 3D printer?

« on: April 06, 2015, 11:19:18 AM »

Thanks guys!

2

General Mach Discussion / Convert a router bed to a 3D printer?

« on: April 05, 2015, 12:21:46 PM »

I'd like to know if it's possible to convert a CNC router bed to a 3D printer.  I currently have a home-built Kleinbauer 7th Sojourn.  It was a great project to teach me the basics of CNC and GCode.  Now I'm thinking that it would be a good platform to learn 3D printing.

I'm aware that I can buy or build extruder heads and I figured that I already have the basic platform of a 3D printer, I just need to pop some new parts onto the 7th Sojourn base and reconfigure Mach3.  The problem is that I'm not 100% sure that Mach3 can support that tech or that your average 2.5D router bed can support it either. 

So, I'm here doing research and would appreciate any fast-tracking to the appropriate info to give me a head-start or head me off if I'm on a wild goose chase.

My machine is driven from an XP via parallel to a HobbyCNC controller board driving NEMA 23 steppers with Mach3.  The bed is 9" x 14" with a 3" Z range.  Thanks!

3

Mach4 General Discussion / Re: New people welcome !! Come in here and introduce your self!

« on: April 04, 2015, 12:35:05 AM »

Hi all.  Well, I'm not exactly "new" per-se as I've been registered on these forums as long as I've been a registered user of Mach3... since 2006.  The problem is that the last time I actually had my Kleinbauer 7th Sojourn up and running was 2008 so I just as well be considered a newbie again.

My new interest was kindled by the 3D printers on the market today.  I'm aware that I can buy or build extruder heads and I figured that I already have the basic platform of a 3D printer, I just need to pop some new parts onto the 7th Sojourn base and reconfigure Mach3.  The problem is that I'm not 100% sure that Mach3 can support that tech or that your average 2.5D router bed can support it either. 

So, I'm here doing research and would appreciate any fast-tracking to the appropriate info to give me a head-start or head me off if I'm on a wild goose chase.

My machine is driven from an XP via parallel to a HobbyCNC controller board driving steppers with Mach3.  The bed is 9" x 14" with a 3" Z range.  Thanks!

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: MACH3 ROCKS !!!

« on: December 04, 2007, 11:25:18 AM »

Count me in on the satisfied customer list!  It boggles my mind that there are CNC machines running on other software.   

Poor sods.

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Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: alpha release of point generator..

« on: November 14, 2007, 11:04:55 PM »

I used Rhino.  Import points -> Points to Mesh -> Render -> Save as jpeg.

This scan looks way better.  Moved the camera and laser up about 3", made a new exactly cubical 1.5"x1.5"x1.5" calibration block with a gray matte material attached to the top for better visibility and regularity, and turned the lights off during the scan.  I'm going to experiment with photographic filters tomorrow night to see if I can leave the lights on by filtering out all colors but laser red (650nm).

Nice job on the plugin Art.  It definately has great potential!

Edit: Oh yeah, and the calibration distance was within an 1/8" this time.

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Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: alpha release of point generator..

« on: November 14, 2007, 09:15:10 PM »

Success!  (mostly).  I set the "Ignore points less than n in Z" to -100 and the points.txt file saved.  The scan itself looks kind'a squooshed in the X direction, which is probably due to the cam-to-Z0 distance being a bit off, and alot of noise.  I'm going to tweak some stuff and see if I can improve it.  BRB. 

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Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: Driver Installation question

« on: November 14, 2007, 03:17:19 PM »

Put the .m3p file in the mach3 folder, double click it to install it, and start mach3.   It's more of a Plugin than a driver.

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Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: alpha release of point generator..

« on: November 14, 2007, 12:09:44 AM »

I tried the new plugin and had a couple of problems.

Firstly, the scan appears to be doing what its supposed to but upon completion and returning to 0,0, the points.txt file is 0 bytes long.  I've tried several calibration settings and different scan items but points.txt never gets written.

Secondly, the calibration isn't returning expected results.  The calibration reports 2.45 inches from camera to zero Z whereas the actual distance is closer to 4".  The angle appears to calculate correctly though.  I even went so far as to calculate the FOV as being 47.26 degrees but the Z distance comes back too short.  Perhaps my camera is too close to Z Zero?

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Video P*r*o*b*i*n*g / Re: alpha release of point generator..

« on: November 13, 2007, 08:47:52 PM »

Sweet!  I'll give it a shot in the next day or so.  The laser line is perpendicular to the vector of travel right? 

     - Alex O.

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Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: first home made router

« on: November 10, 2007, 11:31:02 AM »

Looks like it has lots of potential.  Looking forward to seeing some parts cut with it!